Buildings and playing fields in West Leeds are among those listed by Leeds City Council as ‘assets of community value’.
Elland Road football ground in south Leeds was last week the latest high-profile addition onto the council’s list, WLD takes a look at what’s currently listed on the council website in West Leeds.
In essence, becoming an asset of community value gives communities a right to identify a property that is believed to be of value to their social interests or social wellbeing and gives them a fair chance to make a bid to buy the property on the open market if the property owner decides to sell.
Currently, only eligible community groups, local parish councils or local neighbourhood planning forums and charities can nominate.
In West Leeds, the assets of community value are:
- The Barley Mow Pub, Bramley
The pub, on Bramley Town Street, was once the subject of a proposed community bid, until the current privater owner stepped in a couple of years ago. It’s still listed on the council’s website though.
- St Margaret’s Church Hall, Bramley
St Margaret’s Church Hall, in Newlay Lane, had been the home of Bramley Parish Theatre Players for decades. We first reported on the listing in 2019 here.
- TV Harrison Sports Ground, Wortley
A long-running community campaign and several legal challenges finally saw the sports pitches – which were dormant until the community started to use them again amidst plans for council housing – accepted as an asset last year.
- Elida Gibbs Playing Fields, Burley
The playing fields were listed in March this year following a nomination from Leeds Hyde Park Football Club, which is an unincorporated group.
Unsuccessful bids listed on the council website include The Farmers’ pub on Bradford Road, Pudsey.
The full list of bids from across the city can be read here.
What exactly is an asset of community value?
In simple terms, an AoCV enables three key things
1. Community right to bid: The Localism Act 2011 and the Assets of Community Value (England) Regulations 2012 contain rules relating to the “Community Right to Bid”. The purpose of this right is to give communities a right to identify a property or land that is believed to further their social interests or social wellbeing and gives them a fair chance to make a bid to purchase the property or land on the open market if the owner decides to sell. From the date the landowner informs the Council of their intention to sell “community interest groups” have a period of six weeks to request in writing for the group to be treated as a potential bidder in relation to the land. If they do make such a request, the owner is prevented from disposing of the property for a period of six months (from the date they originally informed the Council of their intention to sell) unless it is to a community interest group. The and owner is free to dispose of the property at the end of the six-month period to whomsoever they see fit.
2. Planning applications: The AoCV status of a property or piece of land would be taken into account – along with other relevant factors – when determining planning applications relating to the site.
3. Compulsory purchase rights: A community organisation can request that a local authority uses its compulsory purchase powers to acquire a site registered as an AoCV if the asset is under threat of long-term loss to the community, subject to funding being available within the local authority or provided by the community organisation to cover the cost of the purchase, compensation, and the compulsory purchase process itself.
